Sulky-plow



(No Model.)

H. GALE.

SULKY PLOW.

No. 360,217. Patented Mar. 29, 1887.

. o w h a Z m a w 4 3 1% W x w H o 0 7 &R l H I 1 Hm I M m T v m m w. M 8 W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TIORATIO GALE, OF ALBION, MICHIGAN.

SULKY-PLOW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,217, dated March 29, 1887.

Application filed January 12, 1887. Serial No. 221,102. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORATIO GALE, of Albion, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sulky-Plows; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact'description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in sulky-plows.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of mechanism for Vertically adjusting the plow and beam, in the construction and application of trip mechanism for relieving the caster or rear-wheel in turning, in the means employed for securing the pole, and in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved plow. Fig. 2 is a top plan, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the plow-beam ang plow and showing the application of a yo e.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, A represents a suitable frame, to one side of which is secured the larger traction-wheel, 13, upon a stub crankaXle, C, which is provided with a latch-lever, D, adapted to engage with a segmental ratchet, E, in such manner that said axle by means of such lever can readily be partially rotated and locked in place for the purpose of regulating the horizontal plane of the frame.

Upon the opposite side of the frame is secured a bracket, F, through which is vertically journaleda standard,G, thelower end of which is rigidly secured to a stub-axle, H, which in turn carries the smaller traction-wheel, I. The upper end of this standard is bent at right angles, as shown, and engages with adraft-iron, J,which is secured to the rear end of the tongue K. This draft-iron is bifurcated, as shown, and upon the arm of the standard,between such bifurcations, a collar, L, is rigidly secured by means of a proper set-screw, as shown.

At the rear end of the frame is properly journaled the spindle M of a caster-wheel, N, the upper end of such spindle M having secured to it a notched segment,0,with which engages the spring-latch P, said latch being connected by means of a flexible connection, a, to a suitable armed lever, R, rigidly secured tothe standard G.

Sis the plow-beam, the forward end of which is pivotally secured in the clevis-head T on the frame, to which latterthe draft force is applied as in the ordinary manner. The plowbeam is in close proximity to the side bar of the frame, and to its rear end is secured aplow, U, of any suitable or desired construction.

For the purposes of obtaining additional strength and preventing torsional strain upon the plow-beam, and also to prevent its getting out of alignment, I secure a yoke, V, to the plow-beam or standard portion thereof, said yoke keeping the plow-beam in close proX-. imity to the side bar of the frame, and preferably in contact therewith, while at the same time the plow-beam is free to move vertically.

V is a latch-lever designed to engage with the segmental ratchet Y, secured to the frame, and to which said lever is fulcrumed, the short arm of such lever being connected by means of a link, Z, to the plow, the construction and arrangement of these parts being such that by means of the lever V the plow can be raised or lowered, as desired.

In practice, supposing the plow to be in its elevated position, as in driving to or from the field, and it is desired to plow, the left-hand side of the frame in the drawingsis leveled by means of the attachments to the crank-axle upon that side of the frame, as in ordinary sulky-plows. The plow, by means of the attachments described, is then lowered, and

after having adjusted the same to the depth of furrow desired the latch-lever is engaged with the tooth or teeth of the segmental ratchet Y,so that it will retain the plow at all times in such a position that it will cut a uniform furrow. If a stone or other obstruction is met over which it is desired to pass the plow,the latter is readily raised by means of the lever described, and from the peculiar manner in which the beam and plow are hung the plow in being raised will move readily upward and backward, and immediately upon passing the obstruction, if lowered to the proper position, as before determined, the plow will at once begin its work, and by this means it will be seen that the plow and beam are bodily raised to pass an obstruction,in contradistinction to that class of machines wherein means are only applied for raising the toe of the plow, leaving the heel always in the same position. Having reached the end of the field and it is desired to turn a corner, the horses pulling the pole in either direction will, by means of the lever W and its connections to the spring-latch P, disengage such latch from the notched segment 0, and allow the wheel N to perform its functions as a caster-wheel,while upon straightening away to continue the furrow at right angles to the one already cut the wheel N assumes its normal position, traveling directly in rear of the plow, the segment again engaging the spring, and retaining such engagement until again released by the side movement of the pole.

Ifa lateral adj ustmentis desired for the pole to or from the plow-beam, such adjustment is readily had by releasing the collar L and sliding the bracket J to the desired position upon the horizontal arm of the standard G, and thus means are afforded for equalizing the draft as near as possible.

A is the drivers seat, and B the foot-rest.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, with a sulky plow secured to said plow -beam, embracing said frame and beam to keep said beam in close proximity to the side bar of the frame, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination, in a sulky-plow, with the pivoted tongue, of a caster-wheel provided with a notched segment, and with a springlatch connected to said tongue, adapted to be automatically retracted by the action of the lateral swing of the tongue, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the frame and the caster-wheel, of a swiveled traction-wheel, a pivoted tongue on the standard of the tractionwheel axle, and a spring-latch for the casterwheel, operated by the lateral movement of the tongue, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. The combination of the frame A, carrying traction-wheels B I, caster-wheel N, notched segment 0, spring-latch 1?, standard G, lever B, red at, and the pivoted tongue, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

HORATIO GALE.

Witnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, E. SoULLY. 

